Orientation masking and cross-orientation suppression (XOS):implications for estimates of channel bandwidth

Abstract

Most contemporary models of spatial vision include a cross-oriented route to suppression (masking from a broadly tuned inhibitory pool), which is most potent at low spatial and high temporal frequencies (T. S. Meese & D. J. Holmes, 2007). The influence of this pathway can elevate orientation-masking functions without exciting the target mechanism, and because early psychophysical estimates of filter bandwidth did not accommodate this, it is likely that they have been overestimated for this corner of stimulus space. Here we show that a transient 40% contrast mask causes substantial binocular threshold elevation for a transient vertical target, and this declines from a mask orientation of 0° to about 40° (indicating tuning), and then more gently to 90°, where it remains at a factor of ∼4. We also confirm that cross-orientation masking is diminished or abolished at high spatial frequencies and for sustained temporal modulation. We fitted a simple model of pedestal masking and cross-orientation suppression (XOS) to our data and those of G. C. Phillips and H. R. Wilson (1984) and found the dependency of orientation bandwidth on spatial frequency to be much less than previously supposed. An extension of our linear spatial pooling model of contrast gain control and dilution masking (T. S. Meese & R. J. Summers, 2007) is also shown to be consistent with our results using filter bandwidths of ±20°. Both models include tightly and broadly tuned components of divisive suppression. More generally, because XOS and/or dilution masking can affect the shape of orientation-masking curves, we caution that variations in bandwidth estimates might reflect variations in processes that have nothing to do with filter bandwidth.

Publication DOI: https://doi.org/10.1167/10.12.9
Divisions: College of Health & Life Sciences > School of Optometry > Optometry
College of Health & Life Sciences > Clinical and Systems Neuroscience
College of Health & Life Sciences
College of Health & Life Sciences > School of Optometry > Centre for Vision and Hearing Research
Aston University (General)
Additional Information: Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives License
Uncontrolled Keywords: spatial vision,orientation masking,contrast gain control,spatiotemporal vision,Ophthalmology,Sensory Systems
Publication ISSN: 1534-7362
Last Modified: 04 Dec 2024 08:06
Date Deposited: 11 Mar 2019 18:17
Full Text Link:
Related URLs: http://www.scop ... tnerID=8YFLogxK (Scopus URL)
https://jov.arv ... ticleid=2191969 (Publisher URL)
PURE Output Type: Article
Published Date: 2010-10-08
Authors: Meese, Timothy (ORCID Profile 0000-0003-3744-4679)
Holmes, David J.

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